Orioles Blog

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz encourages the crowd after drawing a walk during the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz encourages the crowd after drawing a walk during the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (Elise Amendola / AP)

The World Series kicks off tonight, and either Chicago or Cleveland will end a long drought of a baseball championship.

After the Orioles lost, I wanted the Cubs to win it all, just to end all that 1908 talk. But I hadn't given Cleveland much of a shot given all the injuries to the pitching staff. It's been amazing to see the Indians manuver their way through the playoffs and into the World Series.

Now that we've had some time to move on from the sting of the loss in the wild card game -- just remember the Red Sox won just as many games in the postseason as the Orioles -- it's time to start looking at what moves the Orioles might address this offseason.

There are a few questions facing the Orioles as they enter the offseason, but these are the big ones.

Reporter Jon Meoli discusses Chris Tillman’s bounce-back start after the Orioles righty allowed a run on six hits in five sturdy innings as they beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2.

Reporter Jon Meoli discusses Chris Tillman’s bounce-back start after the Orioles righty allowed a run on six hits in five sturdy innings as they beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2.

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Orioles reporters Jon Meoli and Eduardo A. Encina on Dylan Bundy’s uneven spring and what it means that the Orioles optioned catcher Austin Wynns to minor league camp.

Orioles reporters Jon Meoli and Eduardo A. Encina on Dylan Bundy’s uneven spring and what it means that the Orioles optioned catcher Austin Wynns to minor league camp.

While the sting of the wild card loss is strong and fresh, and a lot of focus is being placed on the bullpen decisions in the game, don't forget to look at some of the larger issues the Orioles faced this season.

While it certainly is right to question Buck Showalter's decision to go with Ubaldo Jimenez, I can somewhat understand the thought of saving Zach Britton until you had a lead.

OK Orioles fans, raise your hand if you would have expected Ubaldo Jimenez and Hyun Soo Kim to be the ones delivering clutch performances down the stretch and keeping the team in playoff contention. Not many hands up are there?

Baseball is a great game in terms of redemption. One game's goat can just as easily be the hero the next day.

The Orioles open their biggest series of the season tonight as first-place Toronto comes to Camden Yards. Sitting three games back in the division race, the Orioles have to win at least two of the three games or they will be all but buried in the race for the division.